Ratchet wrench



- June 2, 1931. c. w. HELBLING RATCHET WRENCH Filed March 23, 1928Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATCHET WRENCHApplication filed March 23, 1928. Serial No. 264,198.

This invention relates to an improvement in ratchet wrenches.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character ofsimple construc- B. tion and easy of operation, so that it may beoperated with one hand. The wrench is particularly devised for thepurpose of repairing and tightening the ball cock found on the inside ofa water closet, either for removing or tightening the screws or forrepairing the ball cock itself. For this purpose, the wrench is soconstructed as to receive attachments, which ma act either as a screwdriver or as a wrench or this tightening operation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the wrench;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethr'ough Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the ratchet wheel showingone form of attachment; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another 15 form of attachment.

The numeral 1 indicates a casing which.

terminates at its inner end in the handles 2 and at its outer end in thefingers 3, in which is journaled a sleeve 4 upon which a ratchet wheel 5is secured by means of a pin 6, which extends through the ratchet wheeland sleeve, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

A spring pawl 7 is mounted within the casing 1 by means of a bolt 8, thefree end of the pawl 7 extending into position to enga e the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 5.

3 rod 9 is loosely mounted within the casing 1, being slidable therein,having its sliding movement limited, however, by a screw 10, which iscarried by the casing 1 and extends into a groove 11 formed in a sideof.

the rod 9. The outer end of the rod 9 terminates in ears 12, betweenwhich an arm 13 is pivoted as at 14, and extends outwardly through anotch 15 formed in the outer end of the casing 1, in position to engagethe teeth of the ratchet wheel 5. A sprin 16 is interposed between theinner end 0 the arm 13 and a recess formed in the outer end of the rod 9for normally tending to hold the arm 13 in engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel.

The inner end of the rod 9 has a hand disk 17 secured thereto to act asa handle and to enable the operator to obtain a hold on the rod. Aspring 18 is interposed between the disk 17 and a sleeve 19, which fitsinto the notches 20 in the inner end of the casing 1, and said springnormally tends to retract the rod 9 and to draw the arm 13 back inposition to engage another one of the teeth 5.

The sleeve 4 is open or hollow throughout its length,,as shown clearlyin Fig. 4, and the pin 6 extends transversely across the sleeve, and anattachment 21 has a recess 22 formed in one end thereof so as to receivethe pin 6 and to lock the attachment 21 to the pin and ratchet wheelwhen the attachment is received within the hollow sleeve 4., to cause aturning of this attachment upon the rotation of the ratchet wheel. Thisattachment 21 terminates at its outer end in a screw driver 23 forengaging the groove of a screw to turn the latter. The attachment 24shown in Fig.

5 is similar to the attachment 21, except that at its outer end it isprovided with a notch 25, which is intended to fit around a protrudingportion of a screw or other member for obtaining engagement therewith torotate the latter.

The operation of the instrument is very simple. It is only necessary forthe operator to grasp the handles 2 with two of his fingers,

the disk 17 being seated in the palm of his hand, and by exertingpressure upon the disk against the tension of the spring 18 the rod 9 ismoved longitudinally through the casing 1, havin its movement limited by,the screw 10 an the arm 13 being held in engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 5 by the spring 16, longitudinal movement of the rod 9causes a longitudinal movement of the arm 13, which turns the ratchetwheel 5. This ratchet wheel is held against movement in the oppositedirection by the spring pawl 7, which is normally in engagement with theteeth thereof.

By intermittently releasing and then applying pressure to'the disk 17the ratchet wheel may be intermittently rotated. Either It is simple inconstruction and operation and very effective in use.

I claim 1. A wrench of the character described including a casing, asleeve journaled in said casing and having a ratchet wheel securedthereto, means for rotating the ratchet wheel and sleeve, and a pin forsecuring thesleeve and ratchet wheel together and extending into theopen center portion thereof for receiving an attachment which extends atan angle to the wrench.

2. A wrench of the character described including a casing, having asleeve journaled in the outer end thereof, a ratchet wheel secured tosaid sleeve, means to cause a rotation of the ratchet wheel and sleeve,and a pin securing the ratchet wheel and sleeve together and extendingacross the open portion of the sleeve in position to receive a wrenchattachment to cause a rotation thereof upon the rotation of the sleeveand ratchet wheel, said attachment being secured a proximately at rightangles to the wrenc 3. A wrench of the character described including atubular casing, a sleeve extending transversely of said casing andjournaled therein, a ratchet ar mounted on said sleeve, actuating meansor said ratchet gear, a pin extending transversely across the sleeve andsecuring said sleeve and gear together, and

a toolhaving a slotted end to be inserted into the sleeve and embracethe pin for actuation thereby.

4. A wrench of the character described" comprisin a casing, a sleeveextending transversely of the lengthof the casing and rotatably mountedtherein, a gear secured to the sleeve, operating means for the gear, anda pin securing the gear and sleeve together and extending transverselyof the sleeve to receive a slotted tool when said tool is insertedtransversely of the casing.

5. A wrench of the character described comprising a casing, a sleeveextending transversely of the length of the casing and rotatably mountedtherein a gear secured to the sleeve, operating means for the gear, apin securing the gear and sleeve together and extendin transversel ofthe opening in and fixed to t e sleeve, an a tool having a slotted endto be inserted into the sleeve and embrace the pin, to mount said toolfor operation approximately at right angles to the wrench;

6. A wrench of the character described comprising a. casing, a sleevejournaled in the casing, a gear fixed on the sleeve, operating means forthe gear to rotate the sleeve, said sleeve being hollow to receive awrench attachment, and a pin extending transversely across the hollowsleeve and into the gear for securing the gear and sleeve together, andto be engaged by the attachment for causing a turning thereof uponrotation of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLARENCE W. HELBLING.

